More Info →Otaki Maori Land Court Minutebook - 7 September 1881.

Description

Wednesday 7^th September 1881

Place – the same Present – Edward Walter Puckey Esquire Judge Hoani Meihana – Assessor

6 Harurunui No. 2 – continued from 328

Court said

That after consideration it would rule the charge for survey reasonable.

Ordered that the name of Rapata Ranapiri be entered in the register as owner of the Harurunui No . 2 Block.

Fees charged – Hearing £1.0.0 Certificate £1.0.0 Total £2.0.0

Sections 50, 51, 52 – Otaki

Maaka Pukehi’s claim read – tracing produced

Maaka Pukehi – sworn

I live at Otaki. I am of Ngati Turanga of Ngati Raukawa.

I know the sections named and described in the tracing. They are mine. I claim as the sections allotted to me at the laying out of the town. They were allotted to my parent Pukehi and Parakaia Pouepa. There are several of us viz –

Myself, Unaiki Wi Parata and Hera Tuhangahanga

I don’t know any others who could claim these sections.

Objectors

Rapata Ranapiri said

Hunia Horomona who is one is unwell. She has a claim on Section 52. I will prevail on her to come to court this afternoon.

Unaiki Wi Parata said – I object.

See page 345

To stand over.

21 Pauruwhanake

Claim called – no plan – no appearance

Dismissed

26 Te Whakahokiatapango No. 4

Claim read – plan produced

Karanama Whakaheke – sworn

I live at Waikato formerly of Otaki. I am of Ngati Kapu of Ngati Raukawa.

I know the land described on this plan. It was my fathers. Te Whakaheke was his name. He got it when the land was subdivided on our arrival here from Waikato. He always lived and worked it until he died. I did so afterward. No one ever disturbed us.

I alone am now the owner. I have leased it to a European. My brother Irihei leased it to the European. Irihei is my brother and leased this land to provide funds to follow me to Waikato.

Objectors – Enoka Te Wano, Teraiti Te Hiwi, Mohi Heremia, Hakaria – to stand over until Monday 12^th.

11 Te Waerenga

Tiemi Ranapiri said this is the same as another claim of the same name further on. I want this claim dismissed.

Dismissed accordingly.

63 Te roto – W.D. 442

Claim read – plan produced

Ropata Ranapiri – sworn

I live at Otaki. I am of Ngati Tukorehe of Ngati Raukawa.

I know the land shown on this map. It is mine by purchase from Te Roiri Rangiheuea and Katarina Rangiheuea and Ripeka do and Pireaha Mahauariki.

Roiri rangiheuea – sworn

I am of Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Turanga. I live at Manawatu.

I can understand a plan. This plan is correct. It describes my land. I claim it with others from my father since his death we his children have lived on it. My father took it on our arrival here from Waikato.

Riria Hoani Taipua said

I object. I have a claim. Pirieaha Mahauariki will speak for my claim.

Pineaha Mahauariki – sworn

I am a minister of the church of England. I live at Wairarapa. I am of Ngati Pare and Ngati Turanga of Ngati Raukawa.

I understand a map. The true name of this land is Te Rahuri. This shown as Te Rahui is but a portion of the Rahui proper. Te Roto is a wrong name for it. I have a claim on this land.

Taraotea was the principal owner of this land. Taraotea cut up this land and occupied it. It belongs to us and Roiri. We have always occupied since Taraotea’s time. It was formerly bush. We cut it down. It belongs now to

Me Pineaha Mahauariki, Hiria Taipua, Ema Tukumaru, eparaima Mahauariki, Mere Hakaraia, Hakarona Te Reinga, Inia Te Reinga

These have all worked on this land without any interruption. I admit Roiri Rangiheuea and others. Nina was son of Taraotea. Nira is still alive. Taraotea gave this line to our mothers to Katarina and Ripeka and his interest then ceased in it. My mother is still alive. My father is dead. He did the work on this land.

I do not approve of the sale of this land to you. I objected at the meeting for its sale. I think I and my mother have equal claims on this land. I claim through my mother. I never saw her give consent to your purchase. I know she cried when she heard me object to the sale. In Maori tikanga a father will consult with his son about the disposal of lands and the son may protest with effect. The son may not have power to prevent his fathers action.

I heard that Rorii should say that if the sale of this piece were opposed he would sell other lands in which we were interested and near Manawatu to relieve him from his difficulty. I never consented to the sale of this land. Taraotea gave this land to Ripeka my mother and Katarina her younger sister because they had children. Ripeka had several children. Kiharoa the first is dead – Ema Tukumaru – myself – Hakopa – Riria one is dead. Atareta was her name. She has children alive now.

Katarina has one child alive now.

Rangiheuea has no interest on the land shown in this map. His land is outside this piece.

Hiria Taipua – sworn

I am sister to last witness. I heard his statement. It is correct but he omitted to state that Taraotea gave this land to our grandmother – the mother of our mother. Our fathers lived there because they were married to our mothers. I have heard this.

They felled the timber and cultivated on this very piece called Roto. Our own father W. Te Maheneou – died. Hakaraia Te Rei – his brother – survived. Hakaraia lived on the land as well as we. Hakaraia died. We lived with our widowed mothers.

After a time Katarina married again and we then ceased to live there. Kerei was her new husband. We continued to cultivate on this piece though we lived in Otaki. Our elder brother went and lived and worked on Rahui.

I married my husband and have since planted kumara’s and done other work on it. My husband and I did so for 2 years. After that I came and lived on my husband’s land. My brothers’ piece is still there. He leased it to a European. No others than us have ever worked on this land.

Xed R Ranapiri

Taraotea gave this land to the mother of our mother.

My statement relative to the gift by Taraotea to the mother of our mothers is the correct one. We cultivated on this land by our father’s right not by our mother’s. Our father’s had no claim on this land except through their wives.

I object to the saleto you. The right owners of this land are our mothers and ancestors.

Ripeka was my mother. Katarina was my aunt. Roiri has no claim to this land which was given to our grandmother. Roiri is the son of the grandmother and brother of Katarina and Ripeka. Roiri lived at Manawatu not on this land. I say he had no claim. Ripeka is alive.

I object to the sale to you because I think the sellers were not solely entitled.

A child has a right to disapprove ---- act of its parent if it finds occasion.

Counter claimants closed.

Claimants case.

Te Roiri Rangiheuea – sworn

I know this land Te roto. I have a claim on it. I can explain the nature of it.

When Ngati Raukawa came here, my father Rangiheuea was put on this land at the time of the division. Rangiheuea cut it out for himself and he occupied. His brother also lived on it. His brother Hanara also died on it. Hanara cultivated on it. When rangiheuea died, I and my sisters Ripeka and Katarina took possession of it and lived on and worked on it. No one disturbed us.

Hiria’s statement is correct except when she said she claimed the land on her father’s side – Hiria’s statement that their tupuna gave this land to their mother was correct.

Pineaha’s statement was also wrong. Pineaha is my nephew. The son of my sister. Hiria is my sister. I gave 10 acres for love to Hiria, Hohepa and Mere and those who are living here. This 10 acre piece is outside the boundaries of Te Roto.

Xed by Pineaha Mahauariki

This land was not the property of Taraotea. Taraotea had the mana of this place in olden time. He gave the mana of this land to my sisters Ripeka and Katarina.

Rangiheuea’s piece was included in the piece before the court. There is no cultivation on the 10 acre piece. It is bush. No cultivation has been made there. Your parents worked on the land within the boundaries shown on the plan. I and Ripeka and Katarina consented to sell this piece.

Xed by court

Rangiheuea worked on the part to the East (pointed out).

Katarina rangiheuea – sworn

I live at Otaki.

I am sister of Roiri by the same father and mother. Roiri’s statement is correct.

I know Pineaha. He is our child. Our nephew. I cannot deny Pineaha’s claim. He claims through us. Hiria’s statement is not correct as claiming through their father’s side. The 10 acre piece is excluded in accordance with our agreement. Roiri, Ripeka and I agreed to give these 10 acres to the children so that we might do as we pleased with the rest. We sold the rest to you.

Xed by Pineaha

Your statement was correct. Te Roiri’s statement is correct. I don’t understand a plan. I know where roiri should be on the land. You and we have cultivated on this land. My place runs to the creek. I don’t know how many acres we gave to our children. I admit you and others are interested in this land.

Ema Ihakara – sworn

I am the widow of Ihakara Tukumaru. I live at Manawatu. I am of Ngati Turama of Ngati Raukawa.

I know this land. I have a claim to it through my mother Ripeka.

I know Pineaha. He is my brother. I am the elder. I heard the statement of Pineaha. I disapprove of it because our mother sold this land.

Te Roiri is our uncle. This land belongs to him (Roiri) or his father. It was good of Roiri to leave out the 10 acre piece for us. Hiria’s statement is incorrect. This land belonged to our mother and our grandfather Rangiheuea. Rangiheuea lived there. I have seen him there also my mother. Some of us were born there.

Xed by Pineaha

I heard Taraotea mentioned on this land but Rangiheuea first occupied it. All the land shown on the plan (the large one) is called Rahui. The small piece on the west called Rahui is the only place occupied by Taraotea. We all cultivated on this land before the court. I cultivated near to where Kiharoa’s house stood. You cultivated there through your mother.

In 1846, I married and went to Manawatu. You lived on it also till you married and then you came to Manawatu. Kiharoa remained here because he was Ripeka’s son. Ripeka, our mother, married Winara Pariarua and went to live at Ohau.

Winara Pariarua – sworn

I live at Manawatu. I am of Te Mateawa of Ngati Raukawa.

I know this land. Taraotea and Rangiheuea were the owners of it.

I don’t understand plans. I know the land. These two went to Manawatu and left this land to Ripeka as “Kaituke”. Ripeka and Roiri are the true owners of this land now. Roiri is my brother in law.

I heard his statement. I confirm it. Pineaha and Hiria have no claim because they are children. Their mother and Te Roiri has the mana of this land.

Xed by Pineaha

This land was all fern formerly. Now it is cultivated. Part still remains bush. Ripeka’s uncle cut the bush down. You haven’t interest in this land. You are the children of Ripeka. The 10 acre piece is for you.

Claim for survey costs £5.5.0 allowed to Mr Carkeek.

Court adjourned until 10 am tomorrow.

Roto No. 2

Ordered that the names of

Te Roiri Rangiheuea, Katarina Rangiheuea, Ripeka Rangiheuea, Ema Tukumaru and Mere Te Reinga

Be entered in the register as owners of Te Roto No. 2.

Fee charged Hearing £1.0.0 Witnesses £0.7.0 Certificate £1.0.0 Total £2.7.0

Amended order.

Identification